Little League Baseball

Who knew little league could be so exciting? I think I witnessed the best game in baseball history on Thursday. Little league play offs are happening. 20 teams in all, all with the same goal...the championship game.

Kevin's team was losing their second play off game in the first inning 4-0. His team came back and tied the game, then ended up getting ahead by 1 run. The opposing team came back and tied the game, and then scored an extra run. Finally, Kevin's team came back to tie, then scored more runs to lead the game. The game was full of great plays, controversial plays, and a roller coaster of emotions. The team, the parents, and the coaches, were all riding the same roller coaster. It was fun and nerve racking to watch. You want these kids to do so well, and you really feel their disappointment when they are down. Luckily, these kids have great encouraging coaches who guide them along the whole way.

My son is just fortunate to be a part of such a great team. He is unfortunately the worst player on the team. I hate to say that, but it's true. Yep, I'm the mom who's got the kid on the team who needs constant reminders of where the play is, where to stand, ect...

He loves the game, he loves playing. He is just afraid of that dang ball flying at him at 45- 50 mph. I don't blame him in that regard. I guess he gets that from me. A flying baseball with heat behind it can be quite intimidating. He does not stand close enough to the plate because he doesn't want to be a "ball magnet" like one kid on the team is who has gotten hit with a pitch at least every other game. So he either strikes out or walks. It's a toss up.

We have baseball practice on Sunday and then Monday is another play off game. If his team wins Monday, his team will be in the final four play off. So there is a lot of pressure to win on Monday. They play a team that beat them by 3 runs in the regular season. But the team they beat on Thursday had also beat them in the regular season by 3 runs, and in a tournament situation, it's anybody's game, and as they found out the other day, it's not over, until it's over.

So I have a feeling we will be living, breathing, and dreaming baseball all next week. I just hope my son steps up to the plate and gets a hit or two. Their team has the skill to go all the way, let's see if they have the will, desire, and heart to do it. I sure hope so. There will be 13 really disappointed boys otherwise.